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Check the Pool Before You Dive In
You found the house you like. When you make an offer on a house with a pool, you think of lazy summer afternoons lounging by the water. But for the unwary buyer a pool can mean only headaches.
Don't think that a 50k pool increases the value of the home by that much. A pool rarely leads to an increase in property, sometimes it scares off more buyers than it attracts.
Once you decide to take the plunge, then thoroughly inspect the pool, have a pool inspector come and have a look. Ask who installed the pool and who has been keeping it up. Ask to see pictures, to see what the pool looks like in the summer. See if it gets lots of light. If there are overhanging trees, then it might mean leaves in the pool. Ask for a written assurance from the owners that the pool equipment all works.
Look for tears if it's a vinyl lined pool. Look for water saturated soil in the area around the pool, pump, or plumbing. Check the lights; get an explanation if the water is not crystal clear. Make sure the heater is working. Look for bubbles in the return water while the pump is running. This could indicate a leak in the suction side of the filtration system.
Finally, review the operating costs with the vendor. An average 12 by 24 foot pool, the pump shouldn't cost more than $40 a month to run. The heating costs shouldn't exceed $100 a month and the chemicals should be approximately $400 a season. If costs are higher, it could be an indication that the equipment will soon need to be replaced or that the whole pool needs a professional inspection.
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